Atanas Samandov

Bulgaria's government should allocate more money to defense, President Rosen Plevneliev's Defense and Security Secretary Atanas Samandov has said.

He told daily Pressa that several projects could be developed to boost the military industry, citing the example of prospective cooperation with US companies on armored personnel carriers.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has signed a decree appointing reserve Lt Gen Atanas Samandov as his Defense and Security Secretary, the presidency has announced.

The position had been left vacant since May 2013, when Vasil Marinov (later Deputy Interior Minister in Plamen Oresharski's cabinet) stepped down.

Rear Admiral Georgi Motev took over from Lieutenant General Atanas Samandov as Commander of Bulgaria's Joint Forces Command, the Defenсe Ministry reported.

President Rosen Plevneliev decreed that Samandov be discharged from military service and join the reserve. Motev will hold the post on an interim basis.